The former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has said several sections of the Tax Reform Bill must be subjected to further scrutiny before being made law.
Isa Pantami said the National Assembly must halt further deliberation on the bill and allow room for further consultation and the contribution of stakeholders.
In a statement on Tuesday, Pantami noted that the Tax Reform Bill can potentially transform the country’s tax administration if implemented in the national interest.
“The bill has the potential to transform tax collection administration if improved and implemented in the national interest. Nevertheless, there are critical observations that need to be addressed, including a potential conflict with the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution.
“Several sections of the Bill make me uncomfortable, primarily because they lack clear definitions, which could lead to significant challenges during implementation. Furthermore, regulatory bodies may exploit these ambiguities when developing their regulatory instruments,” he said.
He particularly stated that Section 3(3), Section 7(6), Section 8(2), Section 23, Section 28, Sections 95, 96, 97, and 118, Section 141 (supremacy clause) should be subjected to further review.
“Suspend Legislative Action for now as some of the challenges could not be addressed by the chambers alone. In leadership, the ability to change one’s mind is a sign of intelligence and empathy, not weakness.
“Allow for wider consultations on the bills, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are contacted and any ambiguities are effectively reviewed and addressed,” he advised.
The ex Minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari called on the government to fix the mistrust the citizens have towards its policies and programmes.
“I believe that tax, constitutional, and business lawyers, among others, also have a significant role to play in improving the bills.
“Finally, the government must try to address the mistrust between it and its citizens, as our situation as a nation is deteriorating due to this mistrust. Citizens are largely suspicious. Building trust is crucial at this juncture for all arms and tiers of government. We must also prioritize our national interest over and above our personal interests. Issues must also be discussed objectively and critically,” Pantami added.